Have you thought about Perthshire for your motor home and campervanning holiday? The region is well placed for people travelling by motorhome, being situated at the heart of Scotland with easy access from north, south, east and west. You could spend an entire holiday in Perthshire or drop in and out as you explore neighbouring areas.
Perthshire is famed as Big Tree Country, thanks to its amazing woodland and forests, and also for a landscape that provides the perfect outdoor playground for all kinds of activities. Fabulous walks, bike rides, fishing, golf and a treasure trove of more adventurous activities, such as canyoning, white water rating and zorbing, can be enjoyed in Perthshire.
But did you know it is also the place to come for a wealth of foodie gems?
If you like to experience new foods, discover unusual products, dine at acclaimed café and restaurants or drink delicious beverages, Perthshire is a region of many surprises.
10 great foodie finds in Perthshire
1) It’s unlikely that you would associate Perthshire with the Japanese food sushi but then the chances are you don’t know about Lov Sushi, based near Bankfoot.
The unusual enterprise is the brainchild of Fraser and Ross Potter who make sushi using Scottish produce. Lov Sushi offers catering at events, such as festivals, conferences and weddings, and also sushi-making classes.
During a two-hour sushi master class you’ll learn how to work with the sticky sushi rice, cut vegetables, fish and meat to suit rolled sushi and also how to roll the sushi and cut it up to make a pretty arrangement.
The fresh ingredients include cucumber, peppers, carrot and beetroot, as well as fabulously delicious Scottish smoked salmon.
There is plenty of time for testing and eating the sushi, too. The results are a delicious mix of sticky rice, crunchy fresh veg and the smoked tastiness of salmon. See Lov Sushi
2) Chef Tom Lewis is a foodie gem! Tom is THE 2014 Food & Drink ambassador in Scotland and a supporter of Scotland’s 2015 year of Food and Drink.
He is also the celebrated, enthusiastic and innovative chef at his boutique hotel, Monachyle Mhor, Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Perthshire.
The “destination” hotel restaurant is well worth a visit. Ingredients for the fabulous lunch and dinner menus are sourced, as far as possible, either from their own farm and surrounding countryside, or named suppliers. See Mhor Hotel
Other Mhor treats in Perthshire include Mhor 84 Motel. The luxury-budget style accommodation benefits from a creative menu of lunch and evening meals.
3) Perth Farmers’ Market is held on the first Saturday of each month in King Edward Street and St John’s Place, Perth, form 9am to 2pm. There are usually 40 to 50 stalls selling variety of quality local produce, such as the Handmade Oatcake Company and Perthshire Preserves.
4) When you think about fine wines you most likely imagine almost every other country apart from Scotland. Yet in Perthshire, there is a highly productive and acclaimed winery making an amazing range of beverages from fruits and leaves. Yes, leaves! Oak leaves to be exact.
Cairn o’ Mohr winery (and ciderhouse) is based at East Inchmichael, Errol, and sells wines such as brambles, elderberries, gooseberries, raspberries, elderflower, oak leaves and sparkling oak and elder.
All ingredients are fresh and locally produced and the wines are made to a home-style recipe. The wines are gorgeously delicious.
Today their business sells wines worldwide and they boast a tourist attraction for all the family in Errol. See Cairn o’ Mhor.
5) Charlotte Flower Chocolates are made according to the season, nature and traditions. Simply buy and taste their fabulous products, such as filled sweets or chocolate shards, or join a tasting and making workshop at Acharn, near Kenmore. See Charlotte Choccies.
6) Gordon and Durward is another sweet find in Crieff. The couple, Mr Durward and Miss Gordon make Scottish confectionary, such as fudges and tablets. There are 17 flavours of fudge, seven flavours of macaroons and 14 billed sweetie varieties to tempt you. The shop is at West High Street. See Scottish Sweets.
7) Dunkeld Smoked Salmon produce smoked wild Scottish salmon and sell a range of delicious smoked salmon treats. See Dunkeld Smoked Salmon
8) Blair Atholl Water Mill is a working mill that dates back to the 1590s. Taste some of their freshly baked products in the tearoom. All produce is made fresh and from local produce, where possible. It’s a great place to stop for afternoon tea or lunch. See Blair Atholl Water Mill.
9) More foodie hotspots in Perthshire, in the Crieff area, include a great restaurant with rooms, the Barley Bree in Muthill.
10) Last but by no means least is Stewart Tower Dairy, Stanley, which makes fabulous Gelato style ice cream from milk produced by Holstein cows that graze the green pastures of Perthshire. In the parlour you can choose from 18 different flavours of ice cream. See Stewart Tower Dairy.